Exodus 2:18 — Word Study
WLCוַתָּבֹ֕אנָה אֶל־ רְעוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַדּ֛וּעַ מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן בֹּ֖א הַיּֽוֹם׃
BSAWhen [the daughters] returnedbôwʼ▸ [came back quickly, hastened] toʼêl their fatherʼâb ReuelRᵉʻûwʼêl [Jethro, Moses' father-in-law] he asked themʼâmar▸ Whymaddûwaʻ [for what reason, how] have you returnedbôwʼ [come back, arrived] so earlymâhar■ [soon, quickly] todayyôwm [in this day, at this time]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה | and they went | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine plural |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| רְעוּאֵ֖ל | Reuel | Noun proper masculine |
| אֲבִיהֶ֑ן | father their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | and he said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| מַדּ֛וּעַ | why? | Particle |
| מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן | did you hurry | Verb, Piel, perfect second person feminine plural |
| בֹּ֖א | to come | Verb, Qal, infinitive construct common |
| הַיּֽוֹם׃ | this day | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” |
| KJV | And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? |
| ASV | And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day? |
| YLT | And they come in to Reuel their father, and he saith, 'Wherefore have ye hastened to come in to-day?' |
| WEB | When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?” |
| BBE | And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that you have come back so quickly today? |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence is structured around the main action of the daughters returning, with a subordinate clause detailing Reuel's question.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבּוֹא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 2:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Daughters of Reuel at the Wellgenerated
Exodus 2:18 describes the moment when the daughters of Reuel return to their father after an encounter at the well, where Moses helped them fend off some shepherds. Their early return raises a question from Reuel, highlighting the significance of their experience and the urgency of their situation. This passage sets the stage for Moses' eventual meeting with Reuel and his daughters, which leads to significant events in the life of Moses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 3:1 | Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. |
| 2 | Exodus 4:18 | Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied. |
| 3 | Exodus 18:1–12 | Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. |
| 4 | Numbers 19:20 | But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה, va.ta.Vo.nahgenerated
The verb בּוֹא (bo) means to come or go, and is used in various contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone. In this verse, it indicates the daughters' return to their father, emphasizing their quick arrival.
The parsing shows this is a sequential imperfect form, indicating ongoing action in the past. The use of the verb here suggests not just a physical return but also a sense of urgency, as they have hastened back.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the meaning of וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה as 'returned' or 'came back'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה governs the sentence, indicating the action of the daughters returning. This is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating direction towards their father, and then a clause where Reuel asks his question.
The structure highlights the relationship between the daughters' return and the father's inquiry, with the verb at the forefront establishing the action.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה as παρεγένοντο, which conveys a sense of arrival. This choice emphasizes the daughters' coming back in a way that aligns with the Greek audience's understanding of the narrative.
This translation reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew, maintaining the original sense of returning home.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 2:18 tells us that the daughters of Reuel returned to their father after Moses helped them at the well. Reuel asks them why they have come back so quickly, indicating that their return was unexpected and noteworthy.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Reuel's inquiry suggests that the daughters' quick return was unusual and noteworthy, prompting curiosity about what transpired at the well.
Reuel is another name for Jethro, who is identified as Moses' father-in-law in the biblical narrative, reflecting his important role in Moses' life.
The well serves as a setting for Moses' first encounter with Reuel's daughters, leading to his eventual marriage to one of them and his integration into their family.
This moment foreshadows Moses' future relationship with Reuel and the pivotal role that this family will play in his life as he leads the Israelites out of Egypt.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the urgency of the daughters' return suggest about their experience at the well?
- How can we understand the significance of names like Reuel and Jethro in the biblical narrative?
- In what ways do encounters at places like wells serve as important turning points in biblical stories?
- How can we apply the lessons from this passage about family and communication in our own lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Richard Challoner notes that Reuel is also called Jethro, highlighting the duality of names in biblical texts.
Raguel: He had two names, being also called Jethro, as appears from the first verse of the following chapter.Early Church Fathers on Exodus 2 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 2:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd when they came to Reuel their father,.... Or Ragouel, as the Septuagint; and so Artapanus (s) calls him.
Read John Gill on Exodus 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryNow the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTheir father; either, 1. Strictly, and then he is the same who elsewhere is called Jethro, Exodus 18$ oft times; and, as some think, Hobab, . Or, 2. Largely, i.e. their grandfather, for such are oft called fathers, as 16:2 18:3; so he was the father of Jethro, or Hobab, .
Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 2:18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?Ver. 18. To Reuel their father.] Indeed, their grandfather. Old men are usually about home, and can do little else but see to things, and advise.
Read John Trapp on Exodus 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. Reuel, their father] In Numbers 10:29 this person is called Raguel, but the Hebrew is the same in both places. The reason of this difference is that the ע ain in רעואל is sometimes used merely as vowel, sometimes as g, ng, and gn, and this is occasioned by the difficulty of the sound, which scarcely any European organs can enunciate. As pronounced by the Arabs it strongly resembles the first effort made by the throat in gargling, or as Meninski says, Est vox vituli matrem vocantis, "It is like the sound made by a calf in seeking its dam." Raguel is the worst method of pronouncing it; Re-u-el, the first syllable strongly accented, is nearer to the true sound. A proper uniformity in…
Read AdamClarke on Exodus 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. Reuel] Heb. ψςεΰμ, the ‘friend’ or ‘companion of God’ (Sayce, EHH. p. 163 ‘Shepherd of God’: but why should the name be Assyrian?). (AV. Raguel, where the g comes from the LXX., and is one of the many instances of ς being expressed in that version by g, as Gaza, Gomorrah, Gotholiah, &c.: see the writer’s Notes on Samuel, on 1 Samuel 16:20.) The name occurs also in Edom (Genesis 36:4; Genesis 36:10) and Israel (1 Chronicles 9:8). Here it occasions a difficulty. In Exodus 3:1, Exodus 4:18, and ch. 18, Moses’ father-in-law is called Jethro1[102]; in Numbers 10:29, Judges 4:11 (RVm.) he is called Hobab (RV. ‘brother-in-law,’ cf. Exodus 1:16, is a doubtful rend., adopted entirely from…
Read Cambridge on Exodus 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleReuel - Or, as in Numbers 10:29, “Raguel.” The name means “friend of God.” It appears to have been not uncommon among Hebrews and Edomites; e. g. Genesis 36:4, Genesis 36:10.
Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 2 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. Reu-El — Friend of God. The name implies that he worshipped the God of Abraham his father. Midian was the son of Abraham by Keturah. Genesis 25:2. On the relationship of Reuel, Jethro, and Hobab, see Concluding Note.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 2 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”
When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”
So when they came home to their father Reuel, he asked, “Why have you come home so early today?”
Tyndale line
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today?
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that you are come so soon to day?
And whe they came to Reuel their father, he said, Howe are ye come so soone to day?
Strictly literal
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, Why are ye come so soon to-day?
And they come in to Reuel their father, and he saith, 'Wherefore have ye hastened to come in to-day?'
And they come to their father Reuel, and he says, “Why have you hurried to come in today?”
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, Wherefore are ye come home so soon today?
When the girls went to Reuel their father, he said, “Why are you home so early today?”
From the Latin
And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them: Why are ye come sooner than usual?
Simplified
When they got home, their father Reuel asked them, “How did you get back so quickly today?”
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that you have come back so quickly today?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text matches the Septuagint closely, with eight out of nine words aligned. The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees word for word with the Masoretic Text, indicating a strong consistency among these ancient witnesses.
וַתָּבֹ֕אנָה אֶל־ רְעוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִיהֶ֑ן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַדּ֛וּעַ מִהַרְתֶּ֥ן בֹּ֖א הַיּֽוֹם׃
8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ותבאנה אל רעואל אביהן ויאמר מדוע מהרתן בא היום
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ותבואנה] אל [רעואל] [אבי׳הן] [ויואמר] [מדוע] [מהרתן] [בוא] היום
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 2:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine pluralHc/Vqw3fp
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
רְעוּאֵל (Reu'el) means "friend of God" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament. Most notably, it identifies Moses' father-in-law, also known as Jethro, and an Edomite son of Esau. The entries note connections to the tribes of Gad and Benjamin, with references to various genealogies and historical contexts.
רְעוּאֵל n.pr.m.
Moses’ father-in-law
Edomite
Gadite
Benjamite
base
H7467 רְעוּאֵל . Moses’ father-in-law
. Edomite
. Gadite
. Benjamite
7467 R`uw'el reh-oo-ale'
from the same as 7466 and 410; friend of God; Reuel, the name
of Moses' father-in-law, also of an Edomite and an
Israelite:--Raguel, Reuel.
see HEBREW for 07466
see HEBREW for 0410
רְעוּאֵל (re.u.el) — Reuel.
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.4;
son of: Esau (H6215) and Mahalath (H4258);
half-brother of: Eliphaz (H0464), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141);
father of: Nahath (H5184), Zerah (H2226), Shammah (H8048) and Mizzah (H4199)
§ Reuel or Raguel = "friend of God"
1) a son of Esau by his wife Bashemath, the sister of Ishmael
2) the father-in-law of Moses
2a) also 'Jethro'
3) father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad at the time of the census at Sinai
4) a Benjamite, ancestor of Elah
רְעוּאֵל (re.u.el) — Reuel.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at 1Ch.9.8;
son of: Ibnijah (H2998);
father of: Shephatiah (H8203H)
§ Reuel or Raguel = "friend of God"
1) a son of Esau by his wife Bashemath, the sister of Ishmael
2) the father-in-law of Moses
2a) also 'Jethro'
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
roo'-el (re`u'el, "God is his friend"; the Septuagint Rhagouel):
(1) In the genealogical system Reuel is both a son of Esau by Basemath (Ge 36:4,10,13,17; 1Ch 1:35,37) and the father of the father-in-law of Moses, Hobab (Nu 10:29). In the account of the marriage of Zipporah to Moses (Ex 2:16-21) Jethro seems to be called Reuel (compare HOBAB). The various names of Jethro perplexed the Talmudists, too; some held that his real name was "Hobab," and that Reuel was his father. Reuel is probably a clan name (Gray, "Nu," ICC), and Hobab is a member of the clan ("son") of Reuel (Nu 10:29, the King James Version reads "Raguel").
Reuel
Friend of God. (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Gen. 36:4, 10; 1 Chr. 1:35). (2.) “The priest of Midian,” Moses’ father-in-law (Ex. 2:18)=Raguel (Num. 10:29). If he be identified with Jethro (q.v.), then this may be regarded as his proper name, and Jether or Jethro (i.e., “excellency”) as his official title. (3.) Num. 2:14, called also Deuel (1:14; 7:42).
(friend of God) One of the sons of Esau, by his wife Bashemath, sister of Ishmael. (Genesis 36:4,10,13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:36,37) (B.C. about 1790.) One of the names of Moses’ father-in-law. (Exodus 2:18) (B.C. 1530.) Father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad at the time of the census at Sinai. (Numbers 2:14) (B.C. 1490.) A Benjamite, ancestor of Elah. (1 Chronicles 9:8)
the shepherd or friend of God
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fp
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
מַדּוּעַ (maddua) means 'why?' or 'wherefore?'. It is derived from the root meaning 'to know' and is used to inquire about reasons or causes. The entries consistently define it as an adverbial term questioning the basis for something.
מַדּוּעַ 61 and מַדֻּעַ adv. wherefore?
base
H4069 מַדּוּעַ, מַדֻּעַ wherefore?
4069 madduwa` mad-doo'-ah
or madduaa {mad-doo'-ah}; from 4100 and the passive
participle of 3045; what (is) known?; i.e. (by implication)
(adverbially) why?:--how, wherefore, why.
see HEBREW for 04100
see HEBREW for 03045
מַדּוּעַ (mad.du.a) — why?.
why?, on what account?, wherefore?
Part — ParticleHTi
מָהַר (mahar) primarily means to hasten or hurry, conveying a sense of urgency or quickness. It can describe being anxious or impetuous, as well as the act of preparing or bringing something quickly. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning related to acquiring something by payment. The lexicons agree on these definitions without notable disagreement.
[מָהַר] vb. hasten
Niph. be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous
Pi.
hasten, make haste = go or come quickly
hasten vb.
trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly
base
מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price
base
H4116a [מָהַר] hasten . be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous
. . hasten, make haste = go or come quickly
. hasten vb.
. trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly
H4116b מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price
4116 mahar maw-har'
a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e.
(by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often
used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly:--be carried
headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily),
(be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) X quickly, rash, X shortly,
(be so) X soon, make speed, X speedily, X straightway, X
suddenly, swift.
מָהַר (ma.har) — to hasten.
1)(Qal) to hasten
1a) (Niphal) to be hurried, be anxious
1a) hasty, precipitate, impetuous
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to hasten, make haste
1b2) hasten (used as adverb with another verb)
1b3) to hasten, prepare quickly, do quickly, bring quickly
מָהַר (ma.har) — to buy.
acquire by paying purchase-price
V-Piel-Perf-2fp — Verb · Piel · perfect second person feminine pluralHVpp2fp
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
V-Qal-Inf-a — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct commonHVqcc
kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: day/when/time/period
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
da (yom; hemera): This common word has caused some trouble to plain readers, because they have not noticed that the word is used in several different senses in the English Bible. When the different uses of the word are understood the difficulty of interpretation vanishes. We note several different uses of the word:
(1) It sometimes means the time from daylight till dark. This popular meaning is easily discovered by the context, e. g. Ge 1:5; 8:22, etc. The marked periods of this daytime were morning, noon and night, as with us. See Ps 55:17. The early hours were sometimes called "the cool of the day" (Ge 3:8). After the exile the day. or daytime was divided into twelve hours and the night into twelve (see
Day
The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o’clock, and “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex.…
The variable length of the natural day at different seasons led in the very earliest times to the adoption of the civil day (or one revolution of the sun) as a standard of time. The Hebrews reckoned the day from evening to evening, (Leviticus 23:32) deriving it from (Genesis 1:5) "the evening and the morning were the first day." The Jews are supposed, like the modern Arabs, to have adopted from an early period minute specifications of the parts of the natural day. Roughly, indeed, they were content to divide it into "morning, evening and noonday," (Psalms 55:17) but when they wished for greater accuracy they pointed to six unequal parts, each of which was again subdivided. These are held to have been -- "the dawn." "Sunrise."…
The day is distinguished into natural, civil, and artificial. The natural day is one revolution of the earth on its axis. The civil day is that, the beginning and the end of which are determined by the custom of any nation. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, Le 23:32; the Babylonians at sunrise; and we begin at midnight. The artificial day is the time of the sun’s continuance above the horizon, which is unequal according to different seasons, on account of the obliquity of the equator. The sacred writers generally divide the day into twelve hours. The sixth hour always ends at noon throughout the year; and the twelfth hour is the last hour before sunset. But in summer, all the hours of the day were longer than in winter, while those of night were shorter. See HOURS, and THREE.
